When the range doesn't transfer to the course

A little frustrating but just something I need to work on.

I've been using a matted driving range near work at lunch as I'm getting back into playing. I thought I was starting to get my club distances sorted out, thought my current swing dynamics was stabilizing, thought my accuracy/dispursion was at least definable if not good. Well, I was wrong.

I walked on solo yesterday afternoon, front nine I was behind two guys carrying their clubs and at times had to wait for them but no big deal. And there were two guys behind me in a cart who at times had to wait for me, but they didn't seem to mind. Back nine I was behind a couple of groups from a local high school who were out there with their coach, I had to wait on them at times, but no one was pushing from behind so no pressure and no problem.

I was using the Game Golf app manually (no inserts) so I was able to track distances on most of my shots and also get distances to the green which was nice. I also had my rangefinder with me which helped on a couple holes with water hazards, but mostly I was just lasering the bags of the players in front of me to ensure that I wouldn't accidently hit into them. I also had my fitness watch running with a heart rate strap because I was just curious about what it would show (5.74 miles walked, 17,464 steps, 2322kcals burned, 3hrs58min when I got to the car), was interesting to see the gps track later.

In the end my driver was only averaging around 150 yards with the longest at 168 and shortest at 125, nowhere close to what I was doing on the range. My 3H, 6iron, and 7iron were also way short of the range distances. My short game was flub and duff city. Putter distances were also way way off. Only good thing shot-wise was my 6-iron punch shot which helped me get back on course and under tree branches several times.

But in the end I still had fun, tried to not let the poor performance get to me, and by time I got back to the car I was beat and dog tired. So now I've got some work to do and have some ideas on what to work on (ev-er-y-thing). The local grass practice areas should be opening soon which will help a lot. And the first thing I'm going to do later after I clean off the clubs is to rearrange how I have them in the bag.

All in all a nice day on the course, and any shot issues just help me know what to work on.

Most importantly, glad you had fun.
I get it quite a bit. Hitting it well on the range, but struggle early on, on the course.

Sometimes the range performance is just a snapshot in time and the new habits haven't cemented. Practice will gel things eventually.

I seem to hit great at the range then can't hit well at the course..

I blame mats.. off grass is totally different

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

I'm almost the opposite. I do just ok at the range and play better on a course. I almost hate going to the range becaus of it. When I warm up prior to my round, my range time does not indicate how the game will be. Golf is a funny sport.

My range session that day normally has very little to do with how I play that day. Getting swing or set-up changes to transfer to the course is though for all of us. It's what makes golf a puzzle that can never be solved.

My range sessions and course play don't match up very often either. I think it would be especially hard going from mats to actual grass, that's a really big difference.

agreed, hitting the ball on a range and on the course is different. could it be that on the range, there is no pressure / no one is looking at you / taking your time / etc. where on the course, there are 3 people seeing what you do and the pressure is on the DO GOOD.

RichLanci said:

agreed, hitting the ball on a range and on the course is different. could it be that on the range, there is no pressure / no one is looking at you / taking your time / etc. where on the course, there are 3 people seeing what you do and the pressure is on the DO GOOD.

Click to expand...

Also, I think we tend to forget our bad swings on the range much easier too.

Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk

I'm always thankful when the range experience doesn't carry over to the course. I rarely get good results at the range, and use it just to loosen up.

Mikej2 said:

A little frustrating but just something I need to work on.

I've been using a matted driving range near work at lunch as I'm getting back into playing. I thought I was starting to get my club distances sorted out, thought my current swing dynamics was stabilizing, thought my accuracy/dispursion was at least definable if not good. Well, I was wrong.

I walked on solo yesterday afternoon, front nine I was behind two guys carrying their clubs and at times had to wait for them but no big deal. And there were two guys behind me in a cart who at times had to wait for me, but they didn't seem to mind. Back nine I was behind a couple of groups from a local high school who were out there with their coach, I had to wait on them at times, but no one was pushing from behind so no pressure and no problem.

I was using the Game Golf app manually (no inserts) so I was able to track distances on most of my shots and also get distances to the green which was nice. I also had my rangefinder with me which helped on a couple holes with water hazards, but mostly I was just lasering the bags of the players in front of me to ensure that I wouldn't accidently hit into them. I also had my fitness watch running with a heart rate strap because I was just curious about what it would show (5.74 miles walked, 17,464 steps, 2322kcals burned, 3hrs58min when I got to the car), was interesting to see the gps track later.

In the end my driver was only averaging around 150 yards with the longest at 168 and shortest at 125, nowhere close to what I was doing on the range. My 3H, 6iron, and 7iron were also way short of the range distances. My short game was flub and duff city. Putter distances were also way way off. Only good thing shot-wise was my 6-iron punch shot which helped me get back on course and under tree branches several times.

But in the end I still had fun, tried to not let the poor performance get to me, and by time I got back to the car I was beat and dog tired. So now I've got some work to do and have some ideas on what to work on (ev-er-y-thing). The local grass practice areas should be opening soon which will help a lot. And the first thing I'm going to do later after I clean off the clubs is to rearrange how I have them in the bag.

All in all a nice day on the course, and any shot issues just help me know what to work on.

Click to expand...

If you tagged my Dachshund with a GPS device, this blue line would indicate her trail from my garage to my back door. (Approx. 25 linear feet.)

I find that if I aim at a target on every shot on the range, and go through my pre-shot routine on every ball. Then I can transfer what I've been practicing to the course.

If I just go hit balls, it doesn't transfer so well, and really does no good other than loosening up.

I think you are on the right track moving to a grass range. The mats forgive a lot of bad impact...especially if you find yourself hitting it fat on the course. The mat escorts your club head right through on a fat shot, making it seem like it was a good swing, when in fact you might have hit behind the ball, or come in a bit too steep.

I also think that having a challenge with a buddy on the range (closest to the pin) helps...most of the time the transfer is tough because on the course, you get the thought of "this one counts" and "I only have one shot at this."

On the range, you just grab another ball and try it again without penalty.

Went over to the near-to-work course and their grass driving range is still too swampy and probably won't open for another week or three. But their shag bag range is open, grass, free, bring and retrieve your own balls. So I'll head over there a few times this week if the weather holds out. Got the shag bag in the car all ready to go.

Mikej2 said:

Went over to the near-to-work course and their grass driving range is still too swampy and probably won't open for another week or three. But their shag bag range is open, grass, free, bring and retrieve your own balls. So I'll head over there a few times this week if the weather holds out. Got the shag bag in the car all ready to go.

Click to expand...

Mike, if you are just getting back into it, don't get too gripped out over a rocky start. Play your best, and adjust to what you are doing that day.